DUNDAS, ON — Ontario’s most gifted three-year-old pacing colts head for Flamboro Downs on Sunday evening to resume their Gold Series rivalry.
Since their season opener in May many of the colts have been knocking heads with the best in North America in the Burlington Stakes and Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Racetrack. Others competed in the Clearwater Cup at Hiawatha Horse Park and a handful enjoyed a break from the intensity of stakes competition.
With 15 starts on his card already this season, Three Ron Homer deserved the break from stakes action he enjoyed in June. And in an effort to further freshen the colt up for the remainder of the Ontario Sires Stakes season, owner Leslie Nagy of Hamilton decided a trainer change was in order and shifted the colt into the care of Kevin McMaster.
In his first start under McMaster’s tutelage the Run The Table colt finished third, beaten by just half a length in 1:53.4 mile.
“On Monday night (June 25) he raced excellent and finished third,” says Nagy, who is also the owner of million dollar mare Nines Wild. “There are only two divisions so maybe he will get a cheque Sunday.”
Three Ron Homer will attempt to add a portion of the $56,562 purse to his bank balance from Post 5 in the sixth race. The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to the $130,000 Gold Final on July 7.
Trainer Bill Robinson is hoping to have at least one of his starters returning to Flamboro on July 7. The Hagersville resident will harness Cam Bo Informal for Antonio Chiaravalle of Hamilton in the sixth race and Pacific Titan for John Grant of Hornby in the tenth.
Like Nagy, Grant decided just days ago that Pacific Titan would benefit from a new training regimen and sent the Camluck colt to Robinson. The move gives Robinson an additional weapon in a remarkable arsenal of three-year-old pacing colts. His proteges finished first, second and sixth in the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup Final and second and sixth in the Final.
“I don’t know why somebody would give me another three-year-old with the bunch I’ve got,” says Robinson. “But they know they’re going to get a shot anyway. When I put them in to race I don’t favour one over the other. I don’t talk to the drivers. I just get them ready to the best of my ability and may the best man win.”
Pacific Titan will be looking for his first win of the season from Post 1 in the tenth race while Cam Bo Informal makes his Gold Series debut from Post 4 in the sixth race. Reigning Gold Final champ Silver D Moon will start from Post 3 in the second elimination.
Sunday evening’s excitement begins at 6:20 pm at Flamboro Downs with the sophomore pacing colt Gold Series divisions going postward in Races 6 and 10.